New York New York is one of the largest cities in the world. It was founded three hundred years ago at the mouth of the Hudson river. The centre of New York is Manhattan Island. Today Manhattan is the centre of business and finance. Numerous skyscrapers house banks and offices of American business. Broadway begins here, the Stock Exchange is located here, too. Very few people live in Manhattan, though the majority work here. Numerous bridges link Manhattan with the opposite shores. New York has a heavy traffic. The sea encircles many of the city areas and the ships go over or under New York traffic routes.